Improvement in sheet separators and droppers



W. VAN ANDEN & T. COFFIN. improvement in Sheet-separators and Droppers. N0. 128,339. Patentedjune 25,1872.

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witumm: n'veutnr: Y MT@ MJ @www1/Lf M4 PHaTmL/r//aa-RAPH/c ca Mx/wamvfs Pnocsss) UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

WILLIAM VAN ANDEN AND TRISTRAM COFFIN, OF POGHKEEPSIE, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN SHEET SEPARATORS AND DROPPERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 128,339, dated June 25, 1872.

Specilication describing a new and Improved Sheet Separator and Dropper, invented by WILLIAM VAN AND1-:N and TRrsTnAM Con- FIN, of Poughkeepsie, in the county of Dutchess and State of New York.

Our invention consists of a holder for sheets of music or any other sheets of paper, card, or the like, and a pair of retaining and separating devices, with actuating devices therefor, arranged in such manner that a pack of sheets suspended on the holder may, by the pulling of a cord or moving of a lever, be let fall one at a time upon a music-rack or any other receptacle in such manner as to be of great convenience to musicians and others in disposing of one sheet and bringing another into use quickly while performing, so that the music or other performance will not be interrupted for making such changes.

Figurel is a side elevation of our improved apparatus, showing the retaining device in the position ready for releasing a sheet, and the separator ready for separating the sheet to be dropped from those to be retained. Fig. 2 is another side elevation, showing the retainer in its position after having released a sheet, and the separator ready for delivering the sheets to the retainer. This iigure also shows the application of such a receptacle as will be used in the case of the employment of the apparatus in connection with piano-fortes or organs and the like instruments; and Fig. 3 is partly a plan and partly a horizontal section.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

A is a holder, whereon the sheets B are to be suspended, which said holder, in this example, consists of an arm slantin g downward from a stand, C, which supports it; and the sheets B are suspended thereon by rings D, put on from the lower end when the retainer F and separator G are raised to admit of it. But while we prefer a slanting holder of this character, because it allows of the utilizing of the gravity of the sheets for presenting them to the retainer and separator Without other appliances, yet we do not limit ourselves to a slanting holder, because we may have a horizontal one with a spring or weight for pushing the sheets along to the said instrument from time to time as others are dropped. We may also use hooks or other equivalent devices for suspending the sheets on said holder. The lower end of the holder A has a notch or slot, H, into which the points of the fingers F and G work. The selecting-ringer G is on the end of a long lever, I, pivoted near its center, at K, to an arm, L, a little above the holder A, and pivoted to said arm at M, and secured detachably, by a pin or otherwise, at N to the stand C 5 and the ringer F is on the lower end of a short lever, 0, pivoted to arm L at P, and also pivoted at its upper end to the lever I at Q, below the pivot K, so that when lever I is moved to actuate nger G it moves lever O and actuates finger F simultaneously, but in the opposite direction to that in which finger G moves. The finger F extends as much below the linger G as the thickness of one of the rings D, and its uppermost side is even with the lower end of holder A, or thereabout. A short lever, R, at the top ofthe stand, connects with the upper end of lever I to work it, and has a cord, S, for pulling down to work said lever I in one direction. In the other direction said lever I is worked -by a spring, T. This cord may extend down to a foot-treadle, or it may be conducted over guide-pulleys or bell-cranks to any place where it will be convenient for the player to work it by hand. This spring keeps the retaining-nger F down in the position represented in Fig. 1, and the selector up; but when the cord is pulled the retaining-linger will rise, and the selectingfinger G will come down between the ring of the lowest sheet and the next one above just before nger F rises high enough to let the ring of the lowest sheet escape oft' the end of.

the holder. Then, when the cord is released, the finger F will come down to its place and retain the remaining sheets which escape from finger G, which goes up again. In case of using the apparatus for a music-holder the required number of sheets will be arranged on the holder in the order that the music is to be given; but the same idea will be carried out in the use of it for other purposes. In placing the sheets on the holder the arm L will be raised for the rings to clear both the ngers, the pin N being taken out for allowing it to be raised. U is a bar arranged behind the Suspended sheets to prevent them from swinging about. It may be hinged, by means of arms V to the stand, so as to rest against the sheets, and follow them up as they move toward the end of the holder; but said bar may be dispensed with if preferred.

Except for pianos and organs, it may be as convenient for the player to read the music from the lowermost or front sheet suspended on the holder, and then let it drop afterward into any receptacle; but for organs and the like it may be preferred to rst let the sheets drop into a rack, W, and then read it therein. In this case the rack will be so arranged that each successive sheet that falls will hide the preceding ones.

Having thus described our invention, we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. The combination, with the selecting and retaining fingers and the holder, of the arm L, substantially as specied.

2. The combination, with the holding and dropping apparatus, of the arm U for preventing the sheets from swinging, substantially as specified.

The above specification of our invention signed by us this 1st day of March, 1872, and 8th day of April, 1872.

WILLIAM VAN ANDEN. TRISTRAM COFFIN.

Witnesses for VAN ANDEN:

GEO. W. MABEE, T. B. MosHER. Witnesses for GoFFIN: ROBT. N. PALMER,- H. D. VAREOK. 

